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Wednesday, 19 January 2011

John Collier - Caricaturist & Satirical Poet

John Collier (18 December 1708 – 14 July 1786) was an English caricaturist and satirical poet known by the pseudonym of Tim Bobbin, or Timothy Bobbin. The son of an impoverished curate, he was said to have been born at Harrison Fold in Newton but moved to Milnrow at the age of 17 to work as a schoolmaster. Marriage and nine children meant he needed to supplement his income and he began producing illustrated satirical poetry in Lancashire dialect and a book of dialect terms.

English caricaturist John Collier published several graphic prints using the pen name Tim Bobbin. Here is ”A Rap at the Pyrates” from 1773. A victimized writer flees upstairs while pirate printers are dealing with stacks of prints. ”

He died in 1786 leaving the sum of £50 and was buried in the cemetery of Rochdale Parish Church, St. Chad's. He wrote his own epitaph 20 minutes before he died,

"Jack of all trades...left to lie i'th dark" is inscribed on his grave stone.

6 comments:

I remember when I was very young - in the early 1950s - going on day trips in the summer to New Brighton. There was a miniature railway there and I was convinced that my father said the engine's name was 'Tin Bobbin', which seemed a strange name but I never thought to ask why it had such a strange name. It was years later that I read about Tim Bobbin and realised this was what my Dad must have been saying.

"Tommy Mann for use on the Fairy Glen Miniature Railway at New Brighton, which was in effect a fairground novelty ride. The ‘Sentinel’, as it was always known at Jaywick, was converted to look like a conventional tank engine with dummy boiler and bunker. It was used extensively, gradually deteriorating, until 1951 when another loco was obtained. Now named ‘Tim Bobbin’ it saw less and less service until it was seen, on a siding, out of use, in 1959."

Hi! I've been doing some research on my genealogy, and Tim Bobbin is one of my ancestors! I'm related to him on my New Zealand side as Henry Collier emigrated there in the late 1800s. So thanks for the interesting post! :)

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Hyde Festival Theatre

Two upcoming shows in November at Hyde Festival Theatre are:

Smokey Joe's Cafe, which features the songs of Leiber and Stoller. All the 50's classics, a fun night where the audience can join in!

Sunday Night Fever will be an extravaganza featuring Emmerdale's Bob Hope, who is also bring his own band White Van Man. The surrounding streets will be rocking!

Also in November......

Little Shop Of Horrors by PAP Productions

A Panto in December by Hyde Little Theatre

Next March Hyde Musical Society will be preforming In The Woodswo upcoming shows in November at Hyde Festival Theatre are:Smokey Joe's Cafe, which features the songs of Leiber and Stoller. All the 50's classics, a fun night where the audience can join in!

Sunday Night Fever will be an extravaganza featuring Emmerdale's Bob Hope, who is also bring his own band White Van Man. The surrounding streets will be rocking!